Pubdate: Tue, 22 Mar 2005
Source: Sentinel And Enterprise, The (MA)
Copyright: 2005 MediaNews Group, Inc. and Mid-States Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://sentinelandenterprise.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2498
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

LINK BETWEEN LOSS OF MILLS, GROWTH OF REGION'S DRUG TRADE

Today's installment of our special 10-part series, "Decades of 
Addiction-Drugs in North Central Mass.," focuses on how illegal drugs and 
drug trafficking got a foothold in the region, and have continued to grow 
since. Most officials, residents and police who spoke to the Sentinel & 
Enterprise said the drug problem began to take off in the region as 
manufacturing jobs began to disappear in the 1980s and 1990s.

The closing of area mills, along with the General Electric plant in 
Fitchburg and Fort Devens, sent the local economy reeling.

At the same time, major drug dealers took advantage of the situation and 
the region's geographic isolation, and set up shop in North Central 
Massachusetts. And people who used drugs began turning to harder drugs like 
heroin and cocaine, which led to even more crime.

"There's a direct relationship between drug problems and socioeconomic 
distribution," said Leominster Ward 4 City Councilor Robert Salvatelli. 
"There used to be a strong blue-collar community that suffered an economic 
downturn. There were some great factories that are no longer functioning." 
Downtown Fitchburg was once   lined with three-story department stores, a 
five-star restaurant, a Sears and several five-and-dime stores. Now 16 
storefronts sit empty along Main Street between Day and Academy streets, at 
times littered with beer bottles, trash and broken glass. This installment 
of the series illustrates just how long drug trafficking and drug addiction 
have been a problem in North Central Mass., and how some public officials 
turned a blind eye to the problem when it began. But other regions have 
struggled with illegal drug use and trafficking, yet have been able to 
resurrect even the most run-down downtowns through a multi-layered approach 
to the problem.

If city officials want residents to visit Main Street in Fitchburg, they 
must first commit to nearly round-the-clock foot patrols. Residents, and 
the thousands of students who attend Fitchburg State College, will come 
downtown if they feel safe there, and if there's something for them to do 
once they arrive.

Homeless people or drug addicts should not be allowed to loiter downtown, 
bothering or frightening residents.

Police should move   them along. If they won't move, they should be 
arrested. We need a zero-tolerance policy for police throughout the region, 
not just in Fitchburg, because drugs are a regional problem.

We also need city officials to work together to bring companies into the 
region to fill some of the now-empty downtown buildings, whether they're in 
Fitchburg or Leominster.

FSC can also be a huge part of Fitchburg's downtown revitalization. The new 
administration has already proven they want to be a vital part of the 
community. Working with our Statehouse   delegation, they could free up 
state funds to help rebuild empty storefronts in the downtown and make them 
vibrant once again.
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MAP posted-by: Beth